Note: thanks a lot for all this reviews; it makes me keep writing more. Special thanks for my beta reader "IcyWaters", who always correct my chapters. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
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Chapter 7
The de la Vega hacienda at night. Don Alejandro and Maria sat silently, their thoughts focused on the past. Today, in the tavern, they had experienced a feeling that they had never felt before. When the lancers had fired their guns, fear had flooded through their senses, so strong that they could almost taste it.
Maria had spent an hour with Don Alejandro. He looked better, as if the shock was wearing off, but Diego had not returned yet. She decided she would stay just a little longer before making the short trip back to her home in the hope that she might see him.
"I feel like it was all a dream and I am going to wake up soon. I mean my son Diego is Zorro. How is that even possible? I never saw him hold a sword and he always hated violence. "
"I can't believe that someday I will open his room at night and he is not here ."
" I don't think you have to worry about that, " said a strong voice in the hall .
Maria recognized the voice and spun around. "Diego!" She ran to Diego. She wrapped her arms around him. "Diego, thank god you are alright." She began to cry.
"Diego, what the hell are you doing here? How did you enter the hacienda? The door is guarded by soldiers. "
"Who said that I entered through the door? "
"What do you mean? "
"Well, you can say I have other ways. "
Of course, Alejandro thought. How stupid he had been. If Diego was Zorro, of course he wasn't going to ride home through the front gate! He had to have a secret passage into the house somewhere in the countryside.
"You have a lot of explanation to do, my son, don't you think? "
"You owe us to tell how all this began?" said Maria.
"It began when I left for Madrid to study. I joined a military school there. Well, I was the best swordsman in my class, no one here would ever believe that. I just hope none of my friends from there ever come here. They could blow my cover. "
"Why didn't you tell me about that? "said his father.
"I didn't tell you the truth to protect you. You taught me that I was to take care of the weak, those that could not help themselves. I do not want you to hang with me if I ever get caught. I do not want to worry you. Do you understand what kind of danger this information puts you in?"
"Yes, I do. I'd be proud of you for being Zorro, but I would hate it, too, knowing that you were out almost every night risking your life. I've said many things in my ignorance, and I ask for your forgiveness if they hurt."
"They did hurt," he admitted. " but all you did is exactly what I wanted you to do."
"Maria, are you all right? You're not angry, are you?"
She responded automatically. "Angry? No, I am fine. Just fine."
"Of course I am not fine. I just discovered that the man of my dreams is my friend Diego, the one that I thought will always be like a brother to me, "thought Maria.
They heard someone coming from the hall. It appeared to be Miguel running.
"Someone is coming towards the hacienda, "said Miguel.
"You have to hide, Diego, "said Maria.
"Don't worry about me. I will hide in a safe place. "
"Diego, be careful, "said Don Alejandro.
"I will. See you later. Adios. "
A few minutes later, Fernando entered the hall looking terrible.
"I am so sorry Don Alejandro. I am so sorry, "he said.
"I don't understand what you mean that you are sorry. I don't even know you. "
"My name is Fernando. I am a fencing master from Spain .The capitan brought me here to kill an outlaw called Zorro. And when I arrived here and learned that your son lived here I was shocked since I also attended Madrid University and I know his skills with the sword. I told the Capitan all about Diego's fencing skills which made him connect Diego with Zorro. It is my entire fault. He tricked me; he told me that Zorro is a dangerous outlaw, a thief and a murder. But since I arrived here, all the people keep telling me about is his courage and that he takes care of the weak, those that could not help themselves against a corrupted governor who mistreats people here. Now I curse myself for ever telling the capitan about Diego. "
"It is not your fault, you didn't know that Diego is Zorro. "
"I want to make amends for such behavior. "
"What do you mean? "
"I can help Diego escape from here. I know the capitan of ship that brought me here. He is still in town finishing some business. He can help us to escape to Europe."
"Europe! "said Maria with a shocked expression
"Oh no, the moment I get to be close to the man I love he is taken away from me. Help me god, please keep him safe and don't let me be away from him, "thought Maria .